Ink feed and overflow collector means for fountain pens



M. S. BAKER Nov. 25, 1952 INK FEED AND OVERFLOW COLLECTOR MEANS FORFOUNTAIN PENS Filed Sept. 19, 1946 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 YOUNITEDysTA'rIJs PATENT oFFlcE INK FEED AND OVERFLOW COLLECTOR MEANS FORFOUNTAIN PENS Marlin S. Baker, Janesville, Wis., assignor to The ParkerPen Company, Janesville, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin I ApplicationSeptember 19, 1946, Serial No. 697,867

(Cl. 1Z0-50) n 3 Claims.

My invention relates to fountain pens, and it has to do particularlywith ink feed and overow collector means therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide improved ink feed andoverflow collector means for fountain pens of the type disclosed in myLetters Patent No. 2,223,541 granted on December 3,1940.

Another object is to provide ink feed and overflow collector means forfountain pens of the foregoing character adapted for use of lessexpensive nibs, the arrangement being such that less material isrequired for the nib so that gold nibs may be employed at a much reducedcost.

Still another obiect is to provide an improved nib and nib mounting forfountain pens of the type having ink feed means and overflow collectormeans enclosed by a shell except for the writing point of the nib.

An additional object is to provide an arrangement of the foregoingcharacter wherein the nib anchorage is closerto the nib point providinga more positive support for the nib.

A further object is to provide a feed, shell, collector and nibunitwherein the feed unit is retained completely concentric with respectto the shell at all times, and the nib may be mounted in properpredetermined relationship with respect to the feed without cramping andresultant misadjustment thereof. 4 A further obiect is to provide a nibmounting wherein lateral vibration of the nib is eliminated and writingunder all conditions of use is improved.

Anotherl object is to provide ink feed and collector means for fountainpens of the foregoing character which reouires the use of a minimumnumber of parts of simplified construction, which are easy to assembleand disassemble, which do not nget out of adjustment, and which may bemanufactured and maintained in service at less cost.

Y- An additional object is to provide integral ink feed and overflowcollector means for pens of the foregoing character which permits theuse of ink collector cells of greater capacity thereby increasingtheloverflow capacity of the pen.

vA further object is to provide an ink feed, overflow collector unit andnib mounting wherein the flow pattern of ink to the nib point is greatlysimplified.

Other objects and advantages will become obvious as this descriptionprogresses, and by reference to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of fountain penembodying my invention;

FFig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view or" the front endportion ofthe pen shown in Figxl; f

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially online 33ofFig.2; Y

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially online 4-4ofFig.2;and 'j Fig. 5is a perspective view of the writing nib employed. i y

The pen shown in the drawing includes a barrel I0 with a forwardlyextending shell II at the forward end. The barrel I0 and shell II aredetachably secured together by a sleeve-like connector I2 havingv athreaded portion I2a adapted to be screwed into the forward end of thebarrel and a threaded portion I2b adapted to be screwed into the rearend of the shell I I. A clutch ring I3 adapted for attachment of aclosure cap (not shown) is mounted on the connector I2V between thebarrel I0 and shell I I.

The barrel I0 houses an ink reservoir in the form of a flexible sac I4carried by an inner reduced end portion I2cV of the connector I2. `Theink sac reservoir I4 is adapted to be filled with ink by collapsing andexpanding it as is customary with ink reservoirs of thistype.Any'su-itable form of filling mechanism may be employed for collapsingthe ink sac I4, but I preferably employ the type disclosed in my pendingapplication, Serial No. '627,440, filed November 8', 1945; 'This is aso-called multiple stroke type of filling mech-ianism which, as will bewell understood by those skilled in the art, includes an air breathertube I5 having one end disposed in the reservoir- I4 and the other endconnected with the -ink feed channel which will be described more indetail hereinafter. Brieily, the filling mechanism comprises areciprocable end button I6 constantly urged in an outward direction byspring I1. vThe end button I6, at its forward end, supports an annularcam member IBa'which is adaptedto engage the cam surface I8a of a leverI8 pivotally connected at its outer end with a barrel-carried part I9and pivotally supporting a presser bar 2D at its forward end adapted toengagevthe side wall of the sac I4. As more particularly explained in mysaid application, Serial No. 627,440, the foregoing arrangement is suchthat when the end button I6 is depressed, the button-carried cam memberISa rides along the cam surface I8a of the lever I8 and moves the frontend ofthe latter inwardly toward the axis of the barrel I0 to collapsethe sac I4. Upon release of the button I6, the spring I'l returns it toits outermost position releasing the presser bar 20 and lever I8 topermit the sac I4 to expand under its own inherent expandibility. Thecamway I8a is so shaped, as more particularly explained in my saidapplication, Serial No. 627,440, that, when the button I6 fully returnsto its outermost position, the lever I8 and presser bar 20 are Vmovedslightly inward to slightly collapse the sac I4; and finally; when theend cap 2I is-appliedto the-rear-endof This invention has to doparticularly Withthe feed and overflow ink collector means which is fedwith ink from the sac I4;

unit having a comparatively large overflow ink collector section 22 anda reduced integral feedv bar section 23 of cylindrical cross-sectionsprojecting forwardly therefrom. The collector section 22 has an annular:body with a plurality of circumferential 'nnss 24 defining a plurality:of circumferential, longitudinally-spaced; capillary cells' 25.'Ihecollector'section 22" is'further. provided with a reduced rearwardannular extension26 "which is slip-fitted Within and' supported by theforward portion of the connector sleeve IZA. Thelreduced connectorextension 25- provides-` av shoulder 2T' which. isadapted to abut thefrontend ofthe connector sleeve I2 thereby positioning the collectorsection 22' at a predetermined position within Athe shell II. When thecollector section 22' is so positioned, the feed bar'section.23`ispositioned with its front end extending to-an opening 28 formed inthe front endoftheshell II.

Forink 'feed purposes, the collector section 22 and the feed bar section23`are provided with a longitudinal, capillary ink feed duct' or fissure29'i'of' approxirnately"l five thousandths (.005'!) inch iny widthf andextending from the rear end ofVA the'l r-educed collector section 25 toa point spaced'i slightly f'rornb the forward end" of the fedbar section23. Thefeed duct 2911s located thefru'pper side of' the collector and.`feed bar unit audit-intersects the ns24` and the capillary# cells 275"formed thereby. In. this. Way, the capillary` cells 25 constituting acapillary overowf space are constantly in. connection with them feedchannel 29' to receive ink. tendingV to flowthroughthe latter in excessof that required for' writing purposes, as4 more particularly ex;-pla-i'ned in: myr saidv PatentV No. 2,223,541'. The feed-duct 2-9' atthe rear end of the collector section is: out' entirely across thediameter thereof, and thel width of? such d'uctA is maintained constantby a pin 30' when the collector section 22 is: t'ted into the connectorsleeve I2.;

Air isr admitted to the ink'reservoir I4 by way of thev ink collectorcells 25, as explained' in my 'saii--V Patent No'. 2,223,541, and tothat end the underside ofthey feed bar section 23Y is provided withVa-re'ct'angularlyeshaped air channel 3 I-which extend's'rearwardlythrough the collector section 22 intersecting all ofthe fins 24 andcapillary cellsV 25 at a point diametrically opposite the feed duct 292In' Writing, ink is delivered to the writing swirface'by way ofashell-mounted nib 32. The nibf-3`25 is providedV with a cylindricalshank porti'on- 32a, and a writing end portion 32h sltted longitudinallyat 32C. The shell IIY is provided with an enlarged chamber Ila adaptedto receive the collector section 22 with its chamber Wall slightlyspaced from the periphery ofY such collectorv section, and itis furtherprovided with a. reduced substantially cylindrical bore I Il)connec'tfngthe chamberA IIa with the shell opening 2-8'; The nibshank32a isv of a diameter adapted tof'trr snugly within the cylindricalshell bore H11,y the underside of such niby shank' being According tomy; invention, this structure takesV the form of av 4 notched at itsrear endk so as not to obstruct the airpassage 3.I. The-fnib 32`isofsuch length thatits shank 32a projects rearwardly beyond the forwardshell bore IIb into abutting relation with the forward end of thecollector section-v22-and,Y whenvso engaged, its writing point 3'2'17'`projects'through the shell opening 28 slightly beyond the forward end ofthe shell I I with the nib-slit'32c directly above and connected to theforward end of* the feed duct 29. The cylindrical* shell' bore I Ibabove and in alignment withrthe'slitted writing end portion 32h of thenib slightly recessed to provide, with the adjacent surface of the nib,a fine capillary space 34 corresponding substantially to the space 56above; thefnib ofi` the pen disclosedI irnmy.H Patent No5.. 2,223,541.This: space 34. is connected. with the capillary feed duct 29-by1wayof-rthenib slit 32'c;and alsofby'wayof a pierce 35. in the 'upper wallofA the nib shankv rearwardlyof the-inner end of theslittedportionv ofthe'nib. f

The collector`r section 22 is' provided with an axial bore 36 extendingfrom the extreme rear end thereof to a point near the foremost capillarycells'25; The bore^36 is formed with multiple'diameters, therearmostdiameter 36a being largest and the'foremostV diameter 36h being thesmallest. The' mid-diameter portion 36e of the bore 36 is adapted toreceive and support the front end of the breather tube I5 therebyconnectingthe interior of the ink reservoir I4'with the* forward boreportion 36h and the feed duct 29'. The feedv duct Ztl-intersects thebore portion 36o and, in this Way, the ink' reservoirY I4 isv connectedby'way' ofthe breather tube- I5 with the ink feed-*duct29sintermediatetheendsof the latter for multiple stroke fillingpurposes, such, for example, as explained in my said Patent No.`2,223,541 and. the Dahlberg- Patent No. l,9,04;358, issued April 18,1933.

The breather tube I5, with the greater diameter'portion 36aV ofy thebore 35, forms an annular capillaryA space 3'IV of larger dimension thanthe feed duct 29, and this space 31 serves the purpose of a primary inkpassage corresponding `to the primary ink passage` 39 of my saidPatent'No. 2,223,541'. Therearportion of the feedl duct 29, from itsrear end to a point slightly forward of the rearmost capillary cells 25,is-Y connected with the primary inkfeed passage 31Y forA air and inkfeed control purposes as will be understood from my said patent.

It is believed that the operation of my invention will readily beunderstood from thef foregoing description. Briey, ink flows from thereservoir to theslit 32C in the writing end 32o of the nib 32 by way ofthe feed ducts 31 and 29. Air is fed to the reservoir for release of inktherefrom by way of the air passage 3|, the rearmost capillary cells 25.and thel feed ducts 29 and 31'. Ink` is. also deposited. in thecapilla-ry space 34 above the nib by wayvfof the nib slit 32e andperce35. As explained in my said Patent No. 2,223,541, whenan unbalancedpressure condition exists in the reservoir I4 of a character causingmore ink to be fed than is required for writing purposes, the excess inkflows into the capillary cells 25 preventing flooding of ink at theWriting point of the-pen. When this occurs and the capillary cells 25are filled with ink, the flow of air to the reservoir I4 isblocked andno more ink is fed from the reservoir until the cells are emptied. Thecells may be emptied either by writing out thek ink therefrom or by therestoration of a normal. pressure condition within the reservoir I4,thereby causing the ink from the cells 25 to be drawn back thereinto.

A pen embodying my invention presents many advantages. The use of aseparate feed bar is eliminated. The feed means from the reservoir i4 tothe nib 32 is an integral unit. The integral collector and feed barsections permit the use of a continuous, longitudinal ink feed ductwhich provides a very simple ink flow pattern from the reservoir I4 tothe writing point of the nib. This arrangement reduces the number ofparts required. It also eliminates the necessity of adjustment andprecision fitting of separately constructed parts. The integralarrangement greatly facilitates manufacture of the feed and collectorstructure as well as maintenance, and it insures long periods ofoperation without the necessity of repair or adjustment. It eliminatesthe necessity of making provision for support of the nib by thecollector section in relation to the feed bar section; and, in so doing,it enables the use of a deeper feed duct and, in turn, deeper capillarycells, providing greater overflow capacity for the collector. Iteliminates the necessity of precision mounting of the nib with respectto both the collector section and the shell. By supporting the nib inthe shell, it may more readily be adjusted in relation to the feed. Theamount of material required for the nib is reduced thereby effecting aconsiderable saving in material, particularly Where gold nibs areemployed. The nib may be firmly and accurately positioned by the shellin y voir and having a series of circumferential fins I on its peripherydefining capillary ink storage cells and a central axial boreterminating short of the forward end thereof, a reduced feed bar sectionextending forwardly from the front end of said collector section, saidunit having a capillary ink feed slit of uniform width extendingcontinuously throughout the entire length of said collector section andalong said reduced feed bar section substantially to the forward endthereof, said slit intersecting said cells and extending into saidcentral bore in communication therewith throughout the length of thebore and an air channel extending from the forward end of said feed barsection through said collector section to near the rear end thereof andintersecting all of said ns, and an air breather tube having one endmounted directly in an opening directly into said central boreintermediate the ends thereof and forming with the rear portion of thebore an annular ink feed passage communicating with said slit throughoutthe major portion of the latter and opening at the rear end of the unitinto said reservoir.

2. In a fountain pen having a barrel with an ink reservoir therein, anintegral ink feed and overflow ink collector unit comprising a collectorsection adapted to be connected at its rear end to the barrel incommunication with the ink reservoir and having a series ofcircumferential ns on its periphery defining capillary ink storage cellsand a central axial bore terminating short of the forward end thereof, areduced feed bar section extending forwardly from the front end of saidcollector section, said unit having a capillary ink feed slit of uniformwidth extending continuously throughout the entire length of saidcollector section and along said reduced feed bar section substantiallyto the forward end thereof. said slit intersecting said cells andextending into said central bore in communication therewith throughoutthe length of the bore, the depth of said slit opposite rearmost of saidcells being less than the depth opposite the remainder of the cells, andan air channel extending from the forward end of said feed bar sectionthrough said collector section to near the rear end thereof andintersecting all of said ns, and an air breather tube having one endmounted directly in and opening directly into said central boreintermedlate the ends thereof and forming with the rear portion of thebore an annular vlnx feed passage communicating with said slitthroughout the maJor portion of the latter and opening at the rear endof the unit into said reservoir.

3. In a fountain pen having a barrel with an ink reservoir therein, amultiple stroke filling mechanism for lalternately expanding andcontracting said reservoir, an integral ink feed and cver-iiow inkcollector unit comprising a collector section adapted to be connected atits rear end to the barrel in communication with the ink reservoir andh-aving a series of circumferential fins on its periphery definingcapillary ink storage cells and a central axial bore terminating shortof the forward end thereof, a reduced feed bar section extendingforwardly from the front end of said collector section, said unit havinga capillary ink feed slit of uniform width extending continuouslythroughout the entire length of said collector section Vand along saidreduced feed bar section substantially to the forward end thereof, saidslit intersecting said cells and extending into said central bore incommunication therewith throughout the length of the bore and an -airchannel extending from .the forward end of said feed bar section throughsaid collector section to near the rear end thereof and intersecting allof said fins, an air breather tube having one end mounted directly inand opening directly into said central bore intermediate the endsthereof and forming with the rear portion of the bore :an yannular inkfeed passage communicating with said slit throughout the major por-tionof the latter and opening lat ythe rear end of the unit into saidreservoir.

MARLIN S. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,633,896 Kovacs June 28, 19272,223,541 Baker Dec. 3, 1940 2,255,093 Ziegler Sept. 9, 1941 2,283,333Martin May 19, 1942 2,375,770 Dahlberg May 15, 1945 2,410,423 BrinsonNov. 5, 1946 2,417,861 Dahlberg Mar. 25, 1947 2,521,657 Severy Sept. 5,1950

